Watching Gion's figure disappear at the end of the street, Darren could clearly see the shimring trail of tears beneath her chin. His shoulders slumped.
Damn it. He'd only just managed to coax her back into a good mood yesterday...
Who could've guessed this proud, cold little tsundere would be so thoughtful—waking up early to buy him breakfast, even delivering it right to his door?
And even if he had learned Observation Haki... what good would it do?
What kind of psycho scans their own ho with Haki every morning?
That's not normal behavior. That's creepy.
He looked down at the scattered breakfast on the ground and sighed, gathering it up casually.
If it were anyone else, the womanizing scoundrel in him might've shalessly thrown an arm around her and grinned, "You ca at the perfect ti."
But things were different now.
Toki had just given herself to him. No matter how unfaithful he might be in spirit, Darren couldn't bring himself to flirt with another woman right in front of her.
He might be a refined disgrace, but he wasn't completely devoid of a moral line.
He could love freely—but not cruelly.
"Miss Gion seems to care a lot about you,"
Toki walked over, her voice soft and delicate.
Darren shook his head, avoiding the topic. He smiled instead, concern in his eyes.
"You're up early. Why not sleep a little longer?"
He paused.
"...Are you still hurting?"
At the mory of last night's chaos, a blush crept across Toki's cheeks.
"A-a little..."
She slipped her arm around his, resting her head on his shoulder.
"To beco your wife... I'm very happy."
Then, with natural grace, she took the breakfast from his hands and nudged the stunned Darren.
"Go after her. Miss Gion is a good girl. Don't disappoint her."
Toki winked playfully.
"This ti it really doesn't matter—because I beca your wife first."
Under Darren's bewildered gaze, her smile curved like a mischievous kitten.
"I won. Heehee."
...
Unfolding his bio-magnetic field, Darren quickly located Gion.
She was in the family quarters.
From the rooftop of a distant house, Darren gazed at the lone figure curled by the wall, quietly sobbing, and hesitated. He didn't approach right away.
In front of the house—
Gion hugged her knees, eyes red and swollen, her shoulders trembling.
Fat teardrops spilled endlessly down her pale cheeks.
She looked like a wounded rabbit, hiding in the corner, silently licking her wounds.
"Bastard!!"
"Bastard!!"
"Darren is such a bastard!!"
She sobbed and cursed, kicking a small stone nearby. Her eyes were puffy with tears.
She didn't even know what hurt more—
That Darren had lied to her?
That he looked so guilty when he saw her?
Or that she caught that faint victorious smile behind his mask?
"That shaless, disgusting, perverted scumbag!!"
She spat through tears.
"If you keep cursing , I really won't go easy on you..."
A helpless voice suddenly rang out.
Gion flinched.
She looked up in shock and saw a tall figure leaping down from the wall.
Her eyes turned even redder.
"What are you doing here!?"
"You bastard!! Get lost!! I don't want to see you!!"
Her voice cracked as she scread—anger and heartbreak overflowing.
Darren sighed.
"I figured you hadn't eaten yet. You must be hungry."
"Yell at after breakfast. That way, you'll have more energy. Heck, if you want, you can beat up."
He lifted the bag in his hand and offered a small smile.
Gion stared blankly at the food he'd just bought, then recalled the scene from earlier. Her nose twitched, tears welling again.
"I don't need you to care!"
"You already have her, don't you!?"
"You're a liar! A giant liar!!"
"You told nothing happened yesterday... but today... she's wearing your shirt!"
"I was there first!! Waaaahhh—"
Tears poured down like broken pearls.
Darren's lip twitched.
Well, technically nothing had happened last night... until Toki suddenly flipped the whole ga board over.
This was supposed to be a drawn-out love triangle—but she just sneak-attacked her way to the ending.
Was it really his fault?
Any man who could resist that... wouldn't be called a disgrace.
But of course, he couldn't say any of this.
Unless he wanted to die.
So instead, he smiled gently:
"Don't be mad. Here—eat a little sothing."
"I don't want it! I won't eat your food!"
Gion wiped her tears, glaring stubbornly.
This girl's way too stubborn... Darren thought.
Ti for the direct approach.
He set the breakfast down and slowly walked toward her.
"D-don't co any closer!"
Gion instinctively stood up and backed away.
But soon, her back hit the wall.
The closer he got, the more her heart raced.
What's he trying to do...?
His eyes burned with intensity.
He was a disgrace...
She reminded herself again.
Finally, Darren stood before her, staring into her eyes.
"Do you like , Gion?"
"You—you're too close..."
His masculine scent washed over her—bold, untad, domineering.
He's a disgrace.
But... do I really like such a man?
Her gaze faltered.
"Do you like ?" Darren asked again.
"W-who likes you!? Don't flatter yourself—"
Thud!
Darren grabbed her hands with his left, pulled them overhead, and pinned them to the wall.
She struggled—but his strength was overwhelming.
Then—
His right hand gently cupped her cheek, his warm fingers lifting her chin, forcing her to et his gaze.
She froze completely.
It felt like electricity surged through her.
What was he doing...?
But in his eyes, she saw sothing unexpected—
Dominance. Wildness. Coldness.
And... gentleness.
"Gion," he said softly. "This is the last ti I'll ask you."
"Do you like ?"
"If you say no, I'll walk away. I won't ever bother you again."
"After training camp, I'll request a transfer to the New World. You'll never have to see this disgrace again."
Gion froze.
Her face turned pale.
"I... I..."
Her lips trembled, but she couldn't bring herself to say, "I don't like you."
Then—
"Mm!"
Her lips were suddenly sealed.
In that mont of hesitation, Darren acted.
He kissed her—fierce, deep, unyielding.
Their lips locked.
Her mind went blank.
Her wide, tear-filled eyes froze. Her pupils shrank tight.
She tried to resist—but Darren didn't let go.
One second...
Two seconds...
Three...
Her body tingled and went numb.
Her eyes lost focus, slowly closing.
Reflexively, she kissed back.
Without realizing it—
Darren released her wrists.
Gion wrapped her arms around his neck, lost in the mont.
Until—
"Ahh..."
Darren gasped.
She'd shoved him away—hard.
Blood welled from his lip.
Gion's eyes were still dazed, her breath ragged, body trembling.
"...So you do like ."
Darren smirked.
"Shut up!"
"If you hadn't pushed , I wouldn't be able to talk."
"No, you shut up!"
Like a hunting panther, Gion pounced, grabbed him, and with a roar, slamd him into the house.
Onto her bed—still pink and bunny-filled—Darren landed with a thud.
Before he could react, Gion straddled him, strong legs locking him in place.
Tears still glistening in her eyes, she glared at him.
"How many tis did you do it with her?"
"Uh?"
Darren blinked. Under her murderous gaze, he stamred:
"T-three..."
Her eyes lit up with fierce determination.
She ripped open his belt.
"Gion! Calm down! I-I'm still recovering!"
Seeing the gritted teeth, the fire in her eyes, Darren panicked.
Darren: (っ°Д°;)っ
Her competitive streak just kicked in!!
He was already sore and aching—if they really started comparing rounds...
And then—
Darren: (///▽///)
---
To be continued...
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